Art: Senior citizen carries on family tradition with whistles

Wei Zhaozhong, a senior citizen in Shandong province, started to learn the technique of making painted clay sculptures from his father at age 15. After inheriting his father’s skill, Wei designed a new type of tiger clay whistle. The clay whistles made by the nearly 70-year-old Wei are colorfast, durable, and loud. Wei is the only one among five brothers who still makes whistles. In more than 50 years, Wei has made over 100,000 painted clay sculptures. Wei was recognized as a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage painted clay sculpture in 2013.